This month, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged our readers to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters.
While prose is our newsletter’s bread and butter, it turns out that you all certainly aren’t op-prose-d to verse; we received several creative, intriguing, and beautiful poems that we narrowed down to our top five finalists.
Check out the poems below, including the contest winner our readers voted for.
Winner: “Already Everything” by Teresa B.
Heart, never say never you’re already everything
-a forecast
-self-taught creator
-a sweet poet child
you don’t need feedback,
expert guidance — some secondhand rules
To clarify, you were wrong about life
it’s not a contest
a fragment or tournament
but an open park festival
you’re officially invited…
to make love your medicine
until you’ve reclaimed all that was
know you are art
a garden — flush flower
Now, eclipse society and find yourself FREE
Finalist: “Healing Horizon” by Marissa G.
heavily painted,
a summer stained glass sunset,
sweet mind medicine
Finalist: “Work in Progress” by Jenny W.
After months of deliberation
A new me is in the works
There’s - you know - a pretty big limitation
Myself (under development)
My head (stained) our secret reservations (Preservation)
But Wait!
This Heart appearing like a
Powerhouse calling
You’ve got what it takes!
It’s time to reclaim yourself!
Listen. Craft. Fuel. Love.
Never say never -
Music is medicine
Mind and (true) heart
Grown-up and child sisters, interactive
Creating a Masterpiece
Finalist: “A DAY OFF” by Craig L.
Read every word
A fragment reclaimed
Looped secondhand
Currently underway
All-out music
A scoop
A question
An amazing reward
Ikebana snacks
Finalist: “The Art of Austin” by Matti P.
Runners and bikers on Congress,
A sweet treat on Lamar.
Honor the artistic process,
At a pub with tunes popular.
A flower garden in Zilker,
Local food on Barton Springs.
Evening stars and happy weather,
A live band and local paintings.
And we must include a Moody,
For sports or major a concert.
The locations we share already,
Make everyone an Austin expert.
